Dead on the inside

Quite some time passed. Inhio didn’t exactly count the minutes, but he had hoped to be asleep by now, and yet he could still feel that delightful breeze blow past his neck every now and then. He was sitting comfortably and didn’t even consider moving. He wasn’t all that tired, but he would have still liked it if he could get some rest before he gets to see the six eager ponies again and see if they had actually come up with a good plan to bring back his good side. Inhio did have his doubts about this whole thing, but not because he thought that the ponies lacked the required skills for it, but because he felt like he just plain wasn’t meant to ever smile again.

His mind switched from pondering as he heard the steps of a single equine coming towards him. Who could possibly be out at a time like this? He wondered. Hoping that the anonymous equine would simply pass by would have been naive. Just as Inhio expected, the sound of hooves hitting the ground stopped as they came close enough to Inhio. He didn’t think that any of the ponies that had just left would have any reason for coming back, so he just assumed that it was just another curious soul. "Isn’t it a little too late to be taking a walk at this hour?” he asked and got a reply from a voice he recognized well enough, and couldn’t forget, even if he tried.

"No hour is ever late for me, mortal. For your night is my day,” Luna spoke in her usual, fit-for-a-princess kind of tone.

"Your Majesty.” Inhio raised his head and lifted the front of his hat. He did not do so in order to know who he was speaking to, but because he felt like it would be rude to speak to her without showing his face. "I am honored that you would take your precious time to visit me, but to whom do I owe the favor?”

"And why is it that you think I would come here by any will other than my own?”

"Oh?” Inhio seemed surprised. "Forgive me for sounding rude, I just hadn’t thought that one such as you would have any reason to see me again.”

"You are right, mortal one. I had little reason to visit you, and if it weren’t for the natural order of things in Equestria, I doubt we would be having this conversation right now.” Luna realized right away, that these words would mean little to one not from Equestria, so she explained further, ”It is my charge to watch over the dreams of all my subjects here in Equestria...even if they’re not actually from Equestria.”

Something didn’t seem right to Inhio. Could I really be dreaming? He wondered. He looked at the cloud he saw Rainbow Dash fall asleep on and realized that she was no longer there. Luna picked up on his eye motions.

"You did not know you were asleep, did you?” Luna said in a slightly amused tone.

"I won’t lie, Your Highness, I did not.”

"Do not feel ashamed, Inhio.” Inhio was delighted to hear her speak his name out for the first time. "I must admit, I myself have never seen someone dreaming about the exact same situation they were in the moment they fell asleep. Strange...” Luna wondered. "It’s almost as though you can’t really dream, so your mind just imitated your surroundings during your sleep.” That thought may have seemed hard to believe for some, but to Inhio, that seemed like the most obvious answer.

"Aye, that might just be the case, when I think about it...” Inhio hung his head again, but without letting his hat cover his face this time. "I have not seen a single dream in eight long years.”

Luna suddenly felt sorry for the man. Her tone got a bit more sincere. "Tis a large burden you carry on your heart, Sir Inhio.”

SIR Inhio? That’s new. Inhio thought to himself. The last time we met, she had trouble calling me a human, and now, I’m suddenly a Sir? Funny.

"A burden that should not have never been yours, in the first place.”

"Hmm? I thought it was just Twilight and you sister that knew the truth about the darkness within me.”

"I only found out about this from Celestia herself, after we parted ways. To think, that she would hide this from me...” Luna didn’t look too happy.

I wonder if these two have trouble getting along... Inhio wondered.

"Khe khem, well, at any rate, it’s a shame to still see you in the same state as before, but it brings me joy to see that you seem to be enjoying your stay here.” Luna changed the subject.

"Aye, I have never felt such comfort in the dark of the night...There’s just something magical about the nights here in Equestria.”

"I suppose one such as you could say that. From what I’ve heard, your world has no magic in it.”

"You are well informed, Your Majesty.”

"Not as well as I’d like to be.” Luna was referring to the way her own sister kept her in the dark earlier. "Oh!” Luna got startled by something. "I fear I must be on my way now, someone is having nightmares.” Luna had already turned away from Inhio and was ready to leave.

"Wait!” Inhio stopped her. Luna turned towards him again. "A moment of your time, please, Your Grace.”

"Speak what you will, but do so quickly.”

"Forgive my curiosity, Your Grace, but I wish to know if you think Twilight and her friends can truly hope to succeed...They have already wasted a day without any luck.”

Luna did not answer right away, but there was no sign of uncertainty in her words when the answer finally came. "I have faith in Twilight and her friends. It might take some time, but those ponies have prevailed in seemingly hopeless situations before. I wouldn’t worry if I were you.” Luna’s words brought some hope back to Inhio. He thanked the princess for her time, as well as her honesty. "Now, if you don't mind, I really must be on my way.” She turned around, spread her wings, and faded into the dark. "Fare thee well, Sir Inhio!” she shouted from afar.

"Farewell, Your Majesty! And thanks again!” Inhio shouted back, unsure of whether she heard him or not. Inhio got back into the same position as he was in before falling asleep. He felt better after having the short conversation with princess Luna and was at peace now. Before he fell asleep, he felt like the night couldn’t be any calmer, but it still did. Inhio was now sleeping in his dreams, as well as in reality.